Bike shop recommendation for Portland Oregon

July 23, 2011 3:08 PM

We're living in Portland, Oregon and I'm looking to buy a bike I can use to cycle a few miles to work downtown and get around our neighbourhood. There's so many bike shops here we don't know where to start looking. I'd prefer a good-quality secondhand bike, but could probably stretch to a new one if I had to. Neither of us are bike nerds so are wary of being sold the wrong thing, so we're after a place that will give us good, honest, advice and have a good range of bikes. Thanks.
posted by TheDonF to Travel & Transportation around Portland, OR (9 answers total)

Still no answers? Ok.... With bikes, it's harder to get a lemon than it is with other consumer items. it's something about the nature of bikes -simplicity of construction, maybe- but one brand $200 road bike will be about the same as another brand $200 road bike. What you'll mainly have to do is figure out the style you want: mountain or road or whatever. As for specific stores, City Bikes is ok (although it's changed a lot lately and I haven't really kept up).
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 3:43 PM on July 23, 2011

My biking friends swear by Bike Gallery, downtown.
posted by That's Numberwang! at 4:27 PM on July 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Community Cycling Center (co-op) on NE Alberta and 17th Ave. (http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org). They usually have lots of used bikes, some they've rebuilt and some ready to work on. Also cheap parts and very helpful staff always ready with good advice. There are SO MANY bike shops in Portland it's hard to even name a few. A family member recently bought two used bikes at Sellwood Cycle Repair (http://sellwoodcycle.com/) and he recommended them.
posted by gregjor at 4:59 PM on July 23, 2011

We got our bikes from Bike Gallery.
Nice people, great service.

I don't think they deal in used bikes.
But, they do have specials and closeouts from time to time.
posted by nickthetourist at 5:07 PM on July 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

River City Bike Outlet has lots of good stuff. Make sure you stop in because their inventory constantly changes.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 5:26 PM on July 23, 2011

City Bikes, Sellwood and the Community Cycling Center are all good and I was particularly impressed with Sellwood, when I went looking for a friend there. I have a couple of friends who wrench at the Bike Gallery downtown and its not a bad shop but you are probably not their market.

I am a volunteer mechanic at the Bike Farm, we don't have any thing in stock to sell at the moment, but we will, and do, look over bikes people are thinking of buying and we will happily give you advice.
posted by tallus at 8:20 PM on July 23, 2011

Last time I bought a bike (like maybe a couple-three years ago) I went to pretty much every bike shop in town. The place where I ended up feeling by far the most comfortable, and where I bought my bike, was Seven Corners on SE 21st between Clinton and Powell. They were helpful, not at all condescending, and, perhaps most importantly, were respectful of my stated budget and didn't try to upsell me into something I didn't need. In fact, after conversation about my needs, they actually DOWNsold me into something that made more sense for me.

They don't (as far as I know) sell used bikes, only new, but they have them at a fairly wide variety of price points.

Also, how tall are you? My previous bike, a half-decent (though certainly no more than half) Trek hybrid, which is deeply unexciting but served me adequately as a commuter bike, is just sitting in my garage gathering cobwebs. It's got a flat tire and definitely needs a significant tune-up / overhaul, but you can totally just have it if it's the right size for you.
posted by dersins at 9:59 PM on July 23, 2011

Response by poster: @Dersins: Cool, thanks for the offer. I'm just over 6 feet tall—is that any good for your old bike?

@Tallus: Oh man, I keep meaning to memail you. We should meet up sometime soon.

Everyone else: thanks for the replies :)
posted by TheDonF at 4:40 PM on July 24, 2011

I'm just under 6 feet tall, so it might just work. Memail me if you're interested and you can come check it out. No obligation, of course, but if it feels OK you're welcome to it.
posted by dersins at 5:31 PM on July 24, 2011